After spending nearly two decades in global leadership positions, including serving as group CEO of a multinational conglomerate, Vishal Sood made a life-changing decision in 2021. The IIM Ahmedabad graduate left his corner office to address a critical gap in India's employment landscape: the stark disparity in placement opportunities between premier institutes and colleges in smaller cities.
From Corporate Leadership to Social Impact
Having built his career initially in Singapore and later managing educational institutions and media businesses across multiple regions, Sood recognized what he describes as "structural challenges" facing students outside India's top educational institutes. "Students outside top institutes face structural challenges. Pedigree often gets more weight than skills," he observed during his corporate tenure.
This realization prompted his return to Mohali in October 2021, where he launched PlaceCom, an AI-driven career and hiring platform designed specifically to level the playing field for job seekers from tier-2 and tier-3 institutions.
How PlaceCom's AI Technology Works
Operating under the leadership of Sood and his wife Shelly, PlaceCom has developed a comprehensive ecosystem that addresses two critical aspects of campus recruitment:
- Hiring Automation Suite: This streamlines the entire recruitment process including CV generation, candidate shortlisting, assessments, and job-fit analysis
- PrepEdge: Provides personalized, last-minute interview preparation tailored to each student's profile
The platform's innovative approach includes generating answers to common interview questions like "Tell me about yourself" in multiple languages - English, Hindi, Punjabi, and even Bahasa Indonesia, making it accessible to a wider student population.
"AI is an enabler," Sood explains. "It allows both applicants and employers to overcome geographical and pedigree-based barriers."
Rapid Growth and International Expansion
The startup's impact has been significant and swift. Within just three months of launch, PlaceCom secured $2 million in funding, a process Sood attributes to the founding team's established networks and experience.
Today, the company has expanded its reach beyond Indian borders, bringing international placement opportunities from regions including the Middle East and Armenia to smaller Indian campuses. Their hiring strategy reflects their mission, with the company recruiting AI engineers, full-stack developers, app developers, and business development professionals from regional institutions like IIT-Ropar and PEC.
Choosing Mohali Over Metropolitan Hubs
In a departure from typical startup strategy, Sood established PlaceCom's headquarters in Mohali's IT Park, prioritizing lifestyle over conventional business considerations. After years in Singapore, he and his wife chose the Tricity area for its balance, quiet atmosphere, and overall liveability.
However, Sood remains candid about the region's limitations. "Acceptance of new technology is slower here," he admits. "The talent pool and investor ecosystem still don't match Bengaluru, Hyderabad or Pune. But things are improving."
The company has already begun contributing to local ecosystem development through partnerships with IM Punjab, providing recruitment automation tools to startups supported by the institute. They're also preparing to launch CampusShark, an entrepreneurial skilling program for university students across Punjab.
In a remarkable incentive for top performers, Sood is offering his own two-seater sports car to the program's standout participant. "If you want to make it big, give away your sports car," he laughs, noting that the idea originated as a team suggestion.
Despite the pressures of scaling a technology company, Sood maintains a grounded approach to entrepreneurship. His stress management remains simple: coffee, writing, and basketball. And as PlaceCom continues to expand internationally, his commitment to the region remains unwavering.
"Tricity has always felt like home," he reflects. "This is where we wanted to build our lives and now, something larger for students who need it most."
